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Yacht charter in 'The Greek Islands'
The Cyclades are what most people think of as "the Greek Islands" - small dots of sun-burned, wind-blown, rather barren lands populated by hardy and welcoming Greeks living in clusters of white houses and blue Orthodox church cupulas. Santorini is perhaps the visual image that is most common, but is an extreme case.
Too many nice little islands to visit
Challenging saling area with strong winds
fantastic Greek villages with local tavernes
Welcoming Greeks
Explore the sun-baked Cyclades islands of the Aegean,
considered to be the typical Greek islands with their dazzling whitewashed hilltop villages.
The group of islands in the Aegean Sea, southeast of Athens.
The Cyclades derive their name from the Greek word Kyklos meaning circle.
Because the Cyclades are situated round the tiny uninhabited island of Delos and are one of the most important archaeological sites in the western world. According to legend this was the birthplace of the god of light Apollo and his twin sister Artemis.
Today the island is an open air museum and is fascinating even for people without the slightest interest in archaeology or mythology.
Wind in the summer
From late May onwards, but particularly in July and August, the Meltemi north wind blows most days, getting up around 11 in the morning and going down again in the evening. This is a strong wind, and no part of the Cyclades is a good summer destination for those taking a nervous other-half on a first sailing trip. In spring and autumn however, it is a wonderous place for experienced sailors wanting to explore. According to Heikell, the Meltemi gets slightly weaker the further south you go.
In fact the Cyclades has three slightly distinct sailing areas - North, Central, and South
Sailing in North, Central and Southern Cyclades
In fact the Cyclades consist of three distinct areas:
Sailing in Northern Greece
Most easily accessible from Athens - Lavrion or Siros.
The Northern Cyclades islands included the following: Kea, Kythnos, Siros, Andros, Tinos, Delos, Mykonos and Yiaros.
Sailing in the Central Cyclades
The best and only basis for the central Cyclades is Paros and worth visiting. Several budget flights take you to Athens and ferries going from Piraeus. Flying is obviously faster and with less hassle, but we appreciate the ferry trip. The Central Cyclades islands consist of the following: Serifos, Sifnos, Andiparos, Paros, Naxos, Dhenoussa, Iraklia, Skhinoussa, Koufonisia, Amorgos and Levitha.
Sailing in the Southern Cyclades
In order to get to Paros, you must really choose between west and east. The good news is that despite the strong Meltemi blowing you can sail a nice round without having to sail against the wind. The Southern Cyclades consist of the following islands to visit: Milos, Kimolos, Folegandros, Sikonos, Ios, Anafi and Thira.
Pete